Rep. Carter Praises Creation of New Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center in Louisiana

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.) announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will grant $10,000,000 to the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. This money will be used to establish a technical assistance center to help environmental justice organizations successfully apply for federal funds.

The 17 centers across the country will provide comprehensive coverage for the entire United States through a network of over 160 partners. Each of the technical assistance centers will receive at least $10 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

“Creating an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center right here in Louisiana is a massive victory,” said Rep. Carter. “This announcement delivers on my call forresources to help communities and nonprofits navigate the complex federal grant process. The people of Southeast Louisiana deserve long overdue justice and healing from the harms of industrial pollution.  This center will help them access the available funding to do so.”

Background

With this critical investment, these centers will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. These centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

Partners of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice include:

Academic:

    Xavier University
    Dillard University

Community-Based:

    East New Orleans Neighborhood Advisory Commission
    Coalition of Community Organizations
    Government: U.S. Representative, 2nd District
    City of New Orleans Office of Hazard Mitigation
    Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
    New Orleans City Council District E.
    Research and Policy: Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice
    Alliance for Affordable Energy
    Healthy Gulf

Faith-Based:

    Louisiana General Missionary Baptist Convention and the Baptist Pastors Conference of New Orleans